Human papilloma virus genes and their use in gene therapy

Abstract

A process of immortalizing cells with isolated HPV-16, 18, 31, 33 or 35 E6 and E7 genes or the E7 gene alone to produce non-tumorigenic immortalized cell lines which retain the differentiated phenotypic characteristics of the parent cells.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is: 
     
       1. A non-tumorigenic immortalized human epithelial cell line which retains the phenotypic properties of the parent epithelial cells used for immortalization which is produced by a method comprising; (i) transfecting epithelial cells selected from the group consisting of epithelial cells lining the oral and nasal mucosa, larynx, trachea, lung, esophagus, stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, colon, liver, pancreas, kidney, bladder, adrenal, hair follicle and dermal papillae epithelial cells with a DNA vector containing a subgenomic fragment of a human papillomavirus type 16 or 18 comprising the E6 and E7 genes or the E7 gene of human papillomavirus type 16 or 18; and   (ii) selecting for an immortalized non-tumorigenic epithelial cell line which possesses the phenotypic properties of the parent epithelial cells.   
     
     
       2. The immortalized epithelial cell line of claim 1 wherein said cell line is a respiratory epithelial cell line. 
     
     
       3. The immortalized epithelial cell line of claim 1 wherein said cell line is a tracheal epithelial cell line. 
     
     
       4. The immortalized epithelial cell line of claim 3 wherein said human tracheal epithelial cell line is a human cystic fibrosis tracheal epithelial cell line. 
     
     
       5. The immortalized cell line of claim 1 wherein the DNA vector additionally contains a heterologous DNA sequence encoding for a desired protein or polypeptide. 
     
     
       6. The immortalized tracheal epithelial cell line of claim 3, wherein said cell line retains the ion transport properties of the parent epithelial cells. 
     
     
       7. The immortalized human cystic fibrosis tracheal epithelial cell line of claim 4, wherein said cell line retains the ion transport properties of the parent human cystic fibrosis tracheal epithelial cell line.